gungho – PlayStation.Bloghttps://blog.us.playstation.com
Official PlayStation Blog for news and video updates on PS4, PS3, PSN, PS Vita, PSPTue, 26 Sep 2017 21:06:25 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.7.5https://blog.us.playstation.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/cropped-PS-Bug-32x32.jpggungho – PlayStation.Bloghttps://blog.us.playstation.com
32326 Japanese PSone Imports Coming Westhttps://blog.us.playstation.com/2014/05/12/6-japanese-psone-imports-coming-west/
https://blog.us.playstation.com/2014/05/12/6-japanese-psone-imports-coming-west/#commentsMon, 12 May 2014 15:59:48 +0000https://blog.us.playstation.com/?p=132291GungHo Online Entertainment America is releasing six more Japanese PSone Classics! These games have never been seen on American shores, but thanks to the magic of the PSN, a whole new audience may now enjoy them.

The games are in Japanese, and depending on their genre, some are definitely more “import-friendly” than others. This post will give you a breakdown of what to expect from each one so we can help you find the import classic that’s right for you!

Take control of a stereotypical RPG item shop and help outfit adventurers to safely traverse treacherous dungeons and snag some fantastic loot.

The experience branches out based on your decisions and there are plenty of big spenders for you to interact with.

As with any RPG/simulation game, it’s pretty text-heavy. Are you prepared for this immersive shop-running classic?

Dragon Beat Legend of Pinball

The ultimate classic pinball experience has arrived! This classic is easily the most import-friendly game on today’s list. Nearly all of the important text is in English, and old-school pinball fun needs no translation.

The game features two unique game modes. One is the “simple” mode that replicates the standard pinball experience, while the other takes players on a steel ball’s epic journey to defeat a dragon and save the lovely princess.

NEO PLANET

If you’ve ever dreamed of flying through space and terraforming a whole new planet to become the second Earth, NEO PLANET is the game for you.

The goal of this intricately detailed simulation game is to carefully balance each planet’s ecosystem while developing it for potential colonization.

It’s incredibly text-heavy, and provides the kind of core challenge that simulation enthusiasts crave. A fair amount of Japanese fluency will be required to enjoy this title.

Heroine Dream 1-2

One of the earliest idol-simulation games, the Heroine Dream series oozes with nineties style and charm. Players are tasked with carefully managing the latest up and coming “heroine” to help her burst onto the scene with style!

Players can enjoy different paths, and based on the decisions they make along the way they can enjoy completely different endings. Can you balance your heroine’s confidence, athleticism, and stress to make sure they’ve got what it takes to rise to the top? This simulation game features a lot of detailed menus and cutscenes, so a fair amount of Japanese knowledge will be required to enjoy these games.

Tokyo 23-Ku Seifuku Wars

In a post-apocalyptic vision of Tokyo, a ban on uniforms has been implemented. With school uniforms banned, naturally a large-scale civil war ensues. Our hero’s goal is to find her friend’s older brother who went missing during the war. Along the way, she is sucked into the conflict and forced to fight to uncover the truth!

This title has players preparing the ultimate squad of student soldiers to send into large scale combat against their rivals. The battles play out like a crazy game of Rock-paper-scissors based on the elemental attributes of their school uniforms. With heavy emphasis on event scenes and simulation elements, players will need to be able to read Japanese well to fully enjoy this game.

We hope you enjoy this eclectic gathering of old-school Japanese fun. Like all our classics, these are priced at $5.99 each.
]]>https://blog.us.playstation.com/2014/05/12/6-japanese-psone-imports-coming-west/feed/69https://blog.us.playstation.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/6Japanese.jpg3.53Customer Operations Manager, GungHo Online Entertainment America6963GungHo Spring Classics: Six More PSone Importshttps://blog.us.playstation.com/2013/04/09/gungho-spring-classics-six-more-psone-imports/
https://blog.us.playstation.com/2013/04/09/gungho-spring-classics-six-more-psone-imports/#commentsTue, 09 Apr 2013 13:01:50 +0000https://blog.us.playstation.com/?p=103794GungHo Online Entertainment America has got six more Japanese PSOne import Classics coming your way this spring! I’d like to discuss the three titles we’re releasing today, and also get you pumped for the three we will unleash on May 7th, 2013.

4/9/13 Releases

Evergreen Avenue

A unique blend of visual novel, schedule management, and puzzle, this game will have you competing with your rival for the coveted slot of emissary to the great spirits from beyond. Evergreen Avenue takes place in a world that was once governed by magic – where spirits and men once peacefully coexisted. The spirits eventually lost their influence over the realm and left humanity to its own devices. The king of the spirits has recently decided to return to this plane and bond with the common folk once more.

Players will choose between a male or female protagonist, each with their own unique backstory and traits, as they set out to impress the seven spirits who have come to judge them. The unselected character will become your rival, and you will have to outperform him/her to win! It’s crucial to manage each day carefully as you only have so much time to meet with the spirits and perform various tasks to gain their favor. At the end of each period, your success will be weighed against that of your rival to determine which of you will have the honor of ushering in the new age of spirits.

The story and event scenes are quite text heavy, but the menus and mini-games are relatively simple.

Favorite Dear ~Jyunpaku no Yogensha~

While not a direct story sequel, ~Jyunpaku no Yogensha~ is the next game in the Favorite Dear series that was discussed last time we spoke. The game continues with the hybrid RPG/dating simulation gameplay, but this time allows players to choose between a male or female angel as they raise and train the Braves and Faeries that defend the realm.

As with any RPG, a great deal of reading will be required to enjoy the story. Surprisingly enough, a lot of the menus and character stats are actually displayed in English. The battle system is relatively straightforward, and players shouldn’t have too much difficulty unleashing their attacks.

Zero Kara no Mahjong ~Mahjong Youchien Tamago-gumi~

While our last Mahjong game was for more experienced players looking for the chance to compete against adorable opponents and have their fortunes told, this one is geared toward easing beginners into the game. Zero Kara no Mahjong ~Mahjong Youchien Tamago-gumi~ features an extensive “Tamago Class” mode which includes numerous Mahjong tutorials. These lessons are all in Japanese, so English-speaking players may want to skip them and opt to find the rules online.

Filled with cute cartoonish graphics and sound, this Mahjong game is oozing with undeniable charm!

5/7/13 Releases

While March and April had their share of RPGs and dating sims, May will be all about the traditional board/card game experience.

Motto Trump Shiyouyo!

Motto Trump Shiyouyo! is the sequel to the previously released Trump Shiyouyo!, but this time around there are even motto (more) games! These include the following: Daifugo, Shichinarabe, Seven Bridge, Dobon, Page One, Shinkeisuijyaku, Poker, Blackjack, Napoleon, Klondike, Free Cell, and Speed.

Once again, these games are relatively text-light, and players shouldn’t have too much difficulty finding the rules online. If you feel lucky, it’s time to put your skills to the test against a bevy of sassy cartoon animals!

Zero Kara no Shogi ~Shogi Youchien Ayumi-gumi~

From the makers of the Zero Kara no Mahjong, this game eases players into the fascinating world of Shogi. Take lessons, read classic motivational proverbs, and take on all crazy cartoon challengers as you become the ultimate Shogi master!

While the lessons are all in Japanese, the game itself is relatively text light. Like the other traditional games, it would likely be easier to find the rules online and jump directly into a match.

Zero Kara no Mahjong ~Mahjong Youchien Tamago-gumi 2~

The sequel to Zero Kara no Mahjong ~Mahjong Youchien Tamago-gumi~ (see above), this game has players facing colorful cartoon characters in no-holds-barred Mahjong! The lessons that help ease players into the game are still around, but this time they go even further to help teach players proper Mahjong manners that can be applied in real-life situations.

Like last time, if you can’t read Japanese, I suggest you seek out Mahjong tutorials online so you can beat the pants off your challengers!

We hope you enjoy this month’s selection and invite you to come back in May for the rest. While our variety of imports may seem odd, it’s our goal to please those fans who have been hoping for eclectic titles that otherwise have no chance for a western release!

Like our other Classics, these are priced at $5.99 each. We are also working on brief walkthrough videos to help players navigate the Japanese menus and better understand these games. Our first one has already been posted on our Facebook page, and the rest are on the way!

]]>https://blog.us.playstation.com/2013/04/09/gungho-spring-classics-six-more-psone-imports/feed/45https://blog.us.playstation.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/evergreen.jpg4.36Customer Operations Manager, GungHo Online Entertainment America4544GungHo Bringing Six More PSone Imports to North Americahttps://blog.us.playstation.com/2013/03/12/gungho-bringing-six-more-psone-imports-to-north-america/
https://blog.us.playstation.com/2013/03/12/gungho-bringing-six-more-psone-imports-to-north-america/#commentsTue, 12 Mar 2013 13:00:14 +0000https://blog.us.playstation.com/?p=101754last time, I’d like to chat about these lovely games and what you can expect out of them.]]>As promised, GungHo is bringing over a new batch of PSone Imports for your enjoyment today! Just like last time, I’d like to chat about these lovely games and what you can expect out of them.

Sentimental Graffiti

This classic dating simulation was first released in the late nineties. It was popular enough to spawn various sequels, an anime series, and even a radio drama! The story revolves around a protagonist who was constantly moving about during his childhood, so he never had time to form deeper relationships with those around him. He receives a much unexpected letter from a mysterious paramour which simply states, “I want to see you.” He’s got it narrowed down to one of the 12 special women he met in his younger days, and it’s up to the player to decide how this tale ends…

Players control our hero by making use of his incredibly tight schedule. You’ve only got so much time to spend with these ladies, so you have to make it count! Carefully plan out each day by studying your calendar and preparing potentially romantic encounters with the 12 candidates. If you get it right, you might just figure out where that mysterious letter came from…

The game is very text heavy, but there’s a lot of great art and charming event scenes to enjoy. If you are a fan of visual novels, this is one you won’t want to pass up.

First Queen IV

First Queen is a classic RTS/RPG franchise that first introduced the “Gocha-kyara” (tons of characters) battle system. Players control several units by issuing turn based orders then watching the attacks unfold in real time. While the game starts with just a handful of units, your army will grow as your foes bend the knee or you seek out additional recruits via side missions. The ultimate goal is of course to unite (conquer) the entire area and ultimately bring peace to the land. Remember, when you play the game First Queen IV, you win or you die.

While the story contains a lot of Japanese text, the battle controls are pretty straightforward, and you should have little trouble conquering the world with your merry band!

The game is light on text, and the only time you really need to be able to read Japanese is when you want to tweak the rules of the individual games. With a few quick Google searches, a player can easily find the rules to these classic card games as well as how they would be written in Japanese. Once in game, everything is fairly simple to understand.

Oz no Mahoutsukai ~Another World~ RungRung

This whimsical take on The Wizard of Oz features some incredibly nostalgic-looking, fully voiced CG cutscenes, lovely music, and about the cutest portrayal of the Tin Man I have ever seen! The classic tale of the little girl from Kansas who rode a tornado to infamy has been adapted to an almost absurd degree – with various musicals, movies, and video games. This particular adaptation is oozing with a quirky charm that’s sure to warm your heart.

Players take on the role of Dorothy as she (and her little dog too!) travels about the Land of Oz performing various tasks and collecting magical items. Her goal is to help out her new friends, and of course get back home (after all, there’s no place like home).

This game is fairly text-heavy, but its cuteness is universal!

Mahjong Uranai Fortuna ~Tsuki no Megami Tachi~

Affect’s Mahjong Uranai Fortuna ~Tsuki no Megami Tachi~ provides a rather delightful twist to the time-honored classic Chinese game, Mahjong. Players choose 3 of the 6 fortune-telling beauties to compete against in this ancient poker-like, tile-based game of luck and strategy. As you defeat opponents, you can unlock special event photos that can later be viewed at the image gallery.

Luckily for you, these ladies don’t just play a mean game of Mahjong. Whenever you wish, you can enter “Fortune-telling Mode” and have a nice little horoscope prepared. Be warned, once you see your future, it can’t be unseen!

The fortune-telling will of course require significant Japanese knowledge to understand, but the classic game of Mahjong can easily be learned over the internet. Finally, the image gallery needs no translation.

Favorite Dear ~Enkan no Monogatari~

Japanese RPGs are common enough, and the dating simulation/virtual novel genre is no stranger to the west. It is, however, quite rare to see the two genres so delightfully melded into a beautiful, character-driven gaming experience. For the first time (officially), the Favorite Dear series hits the US with its third installment – don’t worry, the stories aren’t exactly sequential, so you won’t have missed anything important.

Players must control their team of warriors in battle against various monsters as they bring peace to the land, but off the battlefield, the main objective is to promote and maintain harmony in the group by visiting with allies. Once you select your date and location, you are treated to an event scene where you need to make the right choices to keep everyone happy. People who like you tend to fight harder, right?! Before you head back to the battlefield, make sure you outfit your soldiers with the best equipment possible so you can smash your foes to bits!

Favorite Dear ~Enkan no Monogatari~ has a combination of anime event graphics and isometric, sprite-based battle sequences. Like any RPG, it’s very text heavy, so make sure to bring your Berlitz Japanese/English dictionary with you when you want to take Tia out for a walk about town!

These PSone Classics are just $5.99 apiece, so head on down to your local PlayStation Store and pick them up later today! We here at GungHo Online Entertainment America hope you enjoy the chance to finally get your hands on these classic imports, because we may have a few more up our sleeves – WINK!

]]>https://blog.us.playstation.com/2013/03/12/gungho-bringing-six-more-psone-imports-to-north-america/feed/99https://blog.us.playstation.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/anotherworld.jpg4.12Customer Operations Manager, GungHo Online Entertainment America9999Grab 6 GungHo PSone Imports on PSN Todayhttps://blog.us.playstation.com/2012/12/04/grab-6-gungho-psone-imports-on-psn-today/
https://blog.us.playstation.com/2012/12/04/grab-6-gungho-psone-imports-on-psn-today/#commentsTue, 04 Dec 2012 17:02:25 +0000https://blog.us.playstation.com/?p=92231GungHo Online Entertainment America may be a relatively new company, its parent company has some incredibly extensive backlogs filled with cult classics and esoteric hits! Today, for the first time ever, GOEA has brought six of these old-school Japanese PlayStation games to America. This post will discuss what these games are all about, how they play, and how accessible they are to the non-Japanese speaking crowd!
Zanac is a classic shoot ‘em up that was originally released on the MSX and later ported to the NES. It was later tweaked, revamped, and made ever-more-awesome in its sequel, Zanac Neo. ZANAC x ZANAC contains three different versions of the original Zanac, as well as Zanac Neo in one neat little package.
While rail-shooters and bullet hell games are nothing new, Zanac represents a level of polish and style worthy of being considered a true classic.]]>

While GungHo Online Entertainment America may be a relatively new company, its parent company has some incredibly extensive backlogs filled with cult classics and esoteric hits! Today, for the first time ever, GOEA has brought six of these old-school Japanese PlayStation games to America. This post will discuss what these games are all about, how they play, and how accessible they are to the non-Japanese speaking crowd!

ZANAC × ZANAC

Zanac is a classic shoot ‘em up that was originally released on the MSX and later ported to the NES. It was later tweaked, revamped, and made ever-more-awesome in its sequel, Zanac Neo. ZANAC x ZANAC contains three different versions of the original Zanac, as well as Zanac Neo in one neat little package.

While rail-shooters and bullet hell games are nothing new, Zanac represents a level of polish and style worthy of being considered a true classic. Its appeal lies in its use of eight different sub weapons and a main shot that can be charged up for some serious damage! Enemies will assault you from all angles, and you will have to keep your wits about you as you strategically dodge and blast your way to victory.

In terms of accessibility, ZANAC x ZANAC is easily the most playable game on today’s list. With virtually no Japanese reading skill required, you can get a very fulfilling (and incredibly challenging) shoot’em up experience!

MAKERUNA MAKENDO2

Originally released on the Super Famicom, this 2D fighter was given new life and revamped graphics in its PlayStation iteration. This quirky fighter is filled to the brim with wacky, charming fun.

With character archetypes ranging from magical schoolgirls to zombie comedians, it’s hard to ignore this game’s unique style. Each character has his/her own set of super moves (utilized in the familiar down forward punch [DFP] style) and crazy backstory. Unlike most fighting games, you can also make use of magic through your MP (Makenki Power). These spells can make you stronger, weaken opponents, or even heal you in a pinch!

Not much Japanese is required to play, but you will miss out on the event text and may need some assistance navigating menus. Once you’re all set up though, beastly punches and kicks are NEVER lost in translation!

VEHICLE CAVALIER

This crazy vehicular combat game takes place in a dystopian future where conflict is decided in the only logical way possible: MECHA COMBAT.

Customize your giant robot fighting suit and go toe to toe against the toughest foes in the land while you complete a series of missions. All eight characters have a unique story to explore, but that’s only if you can survive! Earn some cash as you crush your enemies, then head back to the garage to transform your mech into the mightiest machine in town.

There is a ton of customization involved in loading out your mech, and with 300 weapons to choose from, your options are virtually unlimited. The combat is accessible, but for non-Japanese speakers, Google Translate will definitely come in handy while navigating the menus.

LUP★SALAD

This adorable match-3 puzzle game is loaded with brain-busting puzzle goodness. To clear a stage, you must move your disturbingly cute hero, Salad, as she attempts to remove all colored cubes by matching up three in a row.

The game’s challenge stems from the hero’s very limited movement capabilities. Players are able to push blocks and fall from any height, but climbing back up is a different story. Salad can climb up a single block and jump the space of a single block. If two blocks are stacked on top of each other, she can push the lower one, but the block on top will ultimately fall – resulting in crushing defeat.

No Japanese is needed to push the blocks around, but there is a great deal of event text between chapters. You might not be able to fully experience the story, but you will certainly be able to enjoy two hundred levels of challenging puzzles without having to master Japanese.

ART CAMION SUGOROKUDEN

If you are unfamiliar with the Japanese subculture of Dekotora (or Art Trucks), you are certainly in for a treat. While America was rockin’ out to the one-hit wonder trucker song “Convoy,” over in Japan trucks were being overhauled with garish and awesome accessories and designs. The more ridiculous your truck looks, the cooler you are! It’s kind of like the custom car scene here in the States!

Art Camion Sugorokuden captures the decorated truck phenomenon with classic board game style. With a roll of the dice, you cruise all over Japan to pick up and deliver packages. Each delivery will earn you points, which you can spend to trick out your gigantic ride. When you aren’t hard at work, you can take your special lady out for a little ride, but watch out for your rivals because they will stop at nothing to see you fail!

The game is relatively text heavy, and without some handy translation (or a bilingual friend with whom you can enjoy the game’s multiplayer mode) you are in for a bumpy ride. If you can muscle your way through menus and event text, you will be truckin’ it up with the best of them. Just remember – the crazier your truck looks, the better you are doing!

FINGER★FLASHING

If you have never heard of “Rock, Paper, Scissors,” “Janken,” or “Roshambo,” then I’ve got no idea how to introduce this next game. That being said, Finger Flashing is a challenging and addictive take on a centuries-old classic.

You play as the hero Poi (or her friend Cikke) who is on her way to an important wizardly exam. Her plans to graduate on time seem thwarted when a herd of monsters invade the town and block her path to success. The only way to fix this mess is to destroy all invaders with the almighty power of the Rock-Paper-Scissors School of Magic.

Players march down an ever-moving path as monsters approach from the top of the screen. Each monster will be decked out in the regalia of rock, paper, or scissors, and to defeat them, you have to blast them with their opposing hand. As easy as this sounds, it gets pretty tricky and complicated as monsters begin attacking in groups.

Luckily, you can take them out by matching up chains of the classic Rock-Paper-Scissors formula. If you see monsters of the scissor and rock variety walking down the road side by side, you can combo them by shooting paper at the rock. This will set off a chain that makes the rock monster destroy his scissors-wielding friend. If you had just shot a rock at the scissors monster, it would have been destroyed, but it would have left the rock monster barreling down on you. Combos are the key to your survival once you face up against bigger and bigger monster groups.

While you may get a little tripped up in the bare-bones menus, the only thing you will miss out on in this game is the brief story event text that pops up when you aren’t puzzle-fighting.

So there you have it. Six classic Japanese delights available now for American consumption, at just $5.99 a pop! Hopefully after reading this post you’ve got all the info you need. With a little patience and some free translation software, you’ll be all set to enjoy some imported goodness.

]]>https://blog.us.playstation.com/2012/12/04/grab-6-gungho-psone-imports-on-psn-today/feed/64https://blog.us.playstation.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/lupsalad.jpg4.19Customer Operations Manager, GungHo Online Entertainment America6463Dokuro: A Bone-a-fide Hero Emerges Today on PS Vitahttps://blog.us.playstation.com/2012/10/16/dokuro-a-bone-a-fide-hero-emerges-today-on-ps-vita/
https://blog.us.playstation.com/2012/10/16/dokuro-a-bone-a-fide-hero-emerges-today-on-ps-vita/#commentsTue, 16 Oct 2012 13:00:50 +0000https://blog.us.playstation.com/?p=87671last PlayStation.Blog post, I talked a bit about the origins of my favorite numbskull, Dokuro, and the story surrounding his heroic exploits. My ever-diminishing pool of skeleton-themed puns notwithstanding, I’d like to go a bit deeper into the gameplay elements of Dokuro as well as the concepts that spurred development choices.
Although Dokuro was inspired by children’s books -- The Velveteen Rabbit and a Japanese children’s book called Kuma to Yamaneko -- don’t let the adorable chalk-laden game fool you into thinking the Dark Lord’s castle is child’s play. At first, Dokuro may look like a pretty straightforward 2D side-scrolling puzzler: You’ve got a clear goal of escorting the princess from point A to point B, and a seemingly narrow list of what you can and cannot do to accomplish it. ]]>Update: At this time, Dokuro has only been released on the US PlayStation Store.

In my last PlayStation.Blog post, I talked a bit about the origins of my favorite numbskull, Dokuro, and the story surrounding his heroic exploits. My ever-diminishing pool of skeleton-themed puns notwithstanding, I’d like to go a bit deeper into the gameplay elements of Dokuro as well as the concepts that spurred development choices.

Although Dokuro was inspired by children’s books — The Velveteen Rabbit and a Japanese children’s book called Kuma to Yamaneko — don’t let the adorable chalk-laden game fool you into thinking the Dark Lord’s castle is child’s play. At first, Dokuro may look like a pretty straightforward 2D side-scrolling puzzler: You’ve got a clear goal of escorting the princess from point A to point B, and a seemingly narrow list of what you can and cannot do to accomplish it. You push a few boxes around, toggle a switch or two, and bash a few bozos who try to hurt your precious princess. The game wouldn’t be a fraction as interesting as it is, however, if it simply stopped there.

As you progress through the treacherous castle, you are gradually introduced to new concepts and abilities, such as using the spicy-red chalk to transfer fires and toggling the amazing anti-gravity device to solve vexing gravity-defying riddles. Just as soon as these new concepts are introduced, they snuggle right into your existing bag of tricks. Now you’ve got to avoid heavily armed knights, transform into a hero to slash away at your foes, push an explosive barrel up against a fragile wall and red chalk that barrel’s fuse before the bouncing flame monsters get you!

By the end of the game, you’ve learned how to interact with a whole slew of environments and objects including seesaws, windmills, pendulums, and water.

Every new skill you learn becomes a necessary part of your repertoire as you encounter increasingly complex puzzles, but the game won’t just test your brains. While many of its stages can be solved with mental dexterity alone, there are quite a few stages that will rely on your platforming expertise. For many stages, you will have to carefully time Dokuro’s jumps, shoves, chalks and heroic transformations to survive some of the more precarious pitfalls. The game’s creator, Noriaki Kazama, described these extremely challenging stages as ones that “come at the users with intent to kill.” However, if you ever get fed up with these challenges, you are permitted to skip as many as ten stages and return to finish those death-inducing stages after you’ve had some time to calm down.

The developer Game Arts suggests that if you get stuck on an area, the best thing to do is take a step back and look at the whole picture. What can Dokuro do? What concepts have been recently introduced? And why do I keep jumping into those stupid spikes!? Even the seemingly daunting boss battles can be conquered quite smoothly once you observe their movements and take advantage of your surroundings. In stages like that, it’s important to remember the Ambrose Redmoon quote that inspired Dokuro in the first place: “Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear.”

Dokuro’s motivations may not be clear at first, but once the princess gives him her magical bell to help him protect what’s most important to him, he literally glows with purpose! Seeing this plucky little pile of bones struggle to reach his goals makes the punishing puzzles and brief event scenes all the more rewarding.

Dokuro consists of 15 stages, each with about 10 areas. At the end of each area, you are greeted by a lovely little flower and a small box that says how long you took to clear the area this time around. In my normal puzzling experience, I’d be taken to some kind of stage select or results screen, but the developers were concerned this would pull players away from the immersive experience, so they cut this part out and made it feel like one continuous journey since the levels seamlessly bleed into one another up until you encounter a story event or boss battle.

Dokuro is out today on PS Vita via PSN for $19.99. We also plan to give away some fantastic artwork from one of the original Dokuro artists. For more details, feel free to check out our Facebook page.

One day Dokuro’s boss, the great and powerful Dark Lord, returns to his castle with a beautiful princess in tow. I suppose “in-cage” is more accurate, since this particular princess did not come of her own free will. From the moment Dokuro lays his eyes on her, our bony hero is love-struck and resolves to save her from his master’s treacherous castle.

The Princess pays no mind to imminent danger and will automatically move forward until she reaches an obstacle she cannot cross. Dokuro’s main goal is to get the Princess from point A to point B. Naturally the path is always complicated by traps, pitfalls, and the occasional flying demon. These puzzles will take all the moxie and gumption you can muster as you travel through floors of ever-increasing complexity. As you progress, you uncover new abilities like the Hero Transformation mode that allows you to slash enemies to bits, and the almighty chalks that let you directly manipulate your surroundings with the touch of your finger.

It may seem a strange thing to have a seemingly invisible skeleton save the day, but Dokuro’s unsung endeavors are precisely what make the little scamp so relatable. Before the development team had even begun work on Dokoru, the game’s producer brought in children’s books filled with heartwarming fairytales to inspire the team. The classic storybook style is clearly evident, but the team decided on a unique twist. It was originally suggested that the protagonist be a handsome knight, but something about the little skeleton minion struck a chord with the designers and they decided it would make for a much more interesting story to have the Dark Lord’s own peon save the day. Dokuro may not be the hero the Princess expected, but he’s the only one she has – even if she doesn’t notice him! The game’s themes of unrequited love and tireless devotion are so clearly conveyed that any text is almost completely unnecessary. Dokuro is a skeleton-man of action and his beads of inexplicable sweat say more than mere words could ever convey!

It’s weird to think of a pile of bones as being cute or charming, but once you’ve met Dokuro, it’s hard to think of him any other way. Fearless, unrelenting, and with the power to single-handedly defy the Dark Lord’s minions, Dokuro will let no puzzle stand in his way as he escorts his beloved Princess to safety.

Get ready for some bone-chilling excitement when Dokuro hits PlayStation Store this October.